Absolutely crappy Totem AI?Follow

Does this bug any other shamans out there?

I am really starting to hate Searing Totem, to the point I don't even bother using it in any situation I have adds.

For some reason, the stupid Totem decides to attack a target I am *not* currently swinging at, which results of it doing a piddly 20-30 (I am Lv40 currently) damage to a target I was not attacking, the said mob promptly destroys the totem in one hit.

That was a complete waste of mana, to even put the stupid thing up.

Next on the list of _annoying_ things Searing Totems do, is how they will attack nearby mobs that have not aggro'd yet, as soon as my current mob is dead. This has at least once or twice, almost caused my death as I was *not* ready for that pull yet.

The problem is, though, I don't really see many other Fire-based Totems I can actually use that would really help me much. Fire Nova Totem seems to always draw threat as soon as you drop it on the ground (kinda stupid, tbh) and Magma Totem would _definitely_ draw threat as soon as you drop it on the ground.

So, what's up with this? I don't get why Blizz can't make the Searing Totem attack your target, and only your target.... it would make it a lot more useful.

Agree with OP, though fortunately I have my Sentry Totem to get me out of any of those tough situations.

Searing Totem automatically attacks the closest target to it whether you're attacking that target or not, and will continue to move out to the next furthest target until there are no longer any targets in range.

Unfortunately, yes, a lot of the time it can end up doing more harm than good. It can be iffy in parties as well where it does not descriminate against CC'd targets or non. I have to admit I was pretty disappointed when Blizzard started fixing skills like Cleave and Avenger's Shield to improve their target selection, but of course did nothing for Searing Totem.

Fire Nova Totem is completely not worth the mana cost unless it hits several mobs when it detonates, but you can lay a Stoneclaw Totem first, and after a pulse or two you should be able to get FNT to detonate without issue. I'm not sure if it will work at your level with the ranks you have, but it works for me at 70.

Regarding fire nova totem. If I know I will be pulling either a single mob or multiple mobs, I will cast lightning bolt/chain lightning and drop fire nova totem right after it. This way I already have aggro, and don't need to drop a stoneclaw totem at all. I'll be able to keep my strength of earth totem up, as I'm enhanced specced, and benefit from its buff immediately. If I need to, I will drop a magma totem after the fire nova totem goes off. At that point, I should still have aggro on the mob(s) that I've pulled. I only use searing totem when I am going up against a single mob.